Picture frame

ABSTRACT

A picture frame or the like that may be hung horizontally and vertically is provided. The picture frame has a flat transparent front member and a back member adapted to cooperate therewith. A spring means is provided on the rear member and extends therethrough to exert pressure on the front member to retain an item to be displayed therebetween. The back member further includes a centrally located circularly shaped hanging means that cooperates with a suitable mating retaining means which may be affixed to a verticle surface or wall. Means to frictionally engage the wall are provided.

United States Patent Tornell Mar. 18, 1975 PICTURE FRAME Primary Examiner-Robert W. Michell [76] Inventor: Charles B. Tome", 46 Bradbury Assistant ExaminerWenceslao J. Contreras Rd., New Castle, Del. 19720 [22] Filed: Aug. 9, 1973 [2]] Appl. N0.: 386,964

[52] US. Cl. 40/152.]

[51] Int. Cl. G09f l/12 [58} Field of Search 40/152, l52.1, 154, 156; 248/489, 497

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2.758.402 8/1956 Fulmer 40/1S2.l

, Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Leonard H. King [57] ABSTRACT A picture frame or the like that may be hung horizontally and vertically is provided. The picture frame has 10 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PICTURE FRAME The aforementioned Abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application which, of course, is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

The present invention relates to picture frame or the like and, in particular, to picture frame adapted to be mounted in a horizontal or vertical position to a vertical surface or wall.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION With present day color photography providing attractive prints the amateur photographer as well as the professional frequently desire to temporarily display their photographs as room decorations. Accordingly, there is a need for picture and photograph display means which permits simple changing of the subject matter and which can be hung vertically or horizontally.

The device of this invention satisfies these requirements. Further a transparent member may be permanently affixed to a wall and be unobtusive when not in use.

It is therefore an important object of the present invention to provide an inexpensive, simple, readily employed picture frame display means which may be hung horizontally or vertically and which permits ready changing of the subject matter.

It is another important object of the present invention to provide a picture frame or the like, that may be hung horizontally or vertically and readily changed from one mounting position to the other.

Still another importantobject of the present invention is to provide a picture frame or the like that securely holds 21 displayed picture and protects the surface thereof from external influences which may deface or cause the color to fade.

A picture frame or the like, adapted to be hung horizontally or vertically and fabricated according to the principles of the present invention; may consist of in combination a substantially flat, transparent and rigid front member having a pair of oppositely disposed mutually parallel edges, a back member including a substantially flat portion having a front surface positioned in closely spaced parallelism with a surface of the front member thereby to hold a displayed object between the surfaces and having a pair of opposite disposed parallel edges provided with integrally formed inturned terminal flanges adapted to cooperate in slideable engagement with a pair of front member edges. The back member includes a centrally located circular shaped hanging means affixed to a rear surface thereof and spring means adapted to be affixed to the rear surface and extending through an opening provided therein to exert holding pressure on the displayed object and the front member surface, and toroidal shaped retaining means having an open end and closed end and provided with an annular outwardly extending terminal flange at its open end for cooperating with the circular shaped hanging means and a hole in its closed end adapted to receive means for affixing the retaining means to a vertical surface. The latter member is in a preferred embodiment transparent so that it may be left permanently on a wall and will be unobtrusive if not covered.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The subject matter which I regard as my invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of this specification. My invention, itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front view partially broken away, of a picture frame constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view, in elevation, of the device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partially sectioned side view of an alternate embodiment spring means affixed to the back member shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the spring means shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a top sectional view of a further alternate spring means.

FIG. 7a is a front view of a hanger means fixed to a wall;

FIG. 7b is a section view taken along lines 7b-7b of FIG. 7a showing the picture frame in phantom in the course of being attached;

FIG. 8a is a front view of a hanger means and a mating portion carried by the frame, the latter being shown by a broken away portion; and

FIG. 8b is a section view taken along line 8b8b of FIG. 8a.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing and, in particular to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, wherein there is shown a front, side and top view ofa picture frame 10, fabricated in accordance with the principles of the present invention, and includes a front member 12 which is substantially flat, transparent, and rigid having at least one pair of oppositely disposed mutually parallel edges 14 and 16 and preferably is made from a transparent material such as methyl methacrylate or polystyrene.

A back member 18 is also preferably made of a rigid transparent plastic material and has a front surface 20 positioned in closely spaced parallelism with the rear surface 22 of the front member to hold an object such as a picture, not shown, to be displayedtherebetween. The rear member 18 has a pair of oppositely disposed parallel edges provided with integrally formed internal (inwardly extending) terminal flanges 28 and 30, respectively, which are adapted to slideably retain a parallel pair of front members edges 32 and 34, respectively.

Additionally included on the back member 18 is a centrally located circular shaped hanging means 36 which in thepreferred embodiment includes a toroidalshaped portion 38 provided with an inwardly extending terminal flange 40 which forms an opening 42 adapted to cooperate with an outwardly extending flange 44 provided on a retaining means 46, shown in FIGS. 7a and 7b or alternatively shown as 44 or 46' in FIGS. 8a and 8b. The retaining means 46 and its alternative 46' will be described hereinafter in detail.

Also included on rear member 18 is a spring means which includes a leaf spring 52 having a protrusion 54. The spring 52 is affixedto the rear member 18 preferably by a block 56 and an adhesive, not shown. The protrusion 54 is arranged to extend through an opening 58 provided in the rear member 18 so that protrusion 54 can exert pressure on the front member 12, thereby retaining an object to be displayed therebetween. In the preferred embodiment a pair of spring means 52 have been used.

In FIG. 3 the member 54 at the end of the spring member is shown protruding through opening 58 as if no picture or front panel were present.

Alternatively, a spring means 60, shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 may be used. The spring means 60 is provided with holes 62 on one end adapted to receive rivets or other means for affixing the spring means 60 to the rear member 18. The other end of the spring means 60 may be dimpled, as shown at 66, in a conventional manner to function in a manner similar to the protrusion 54.

In FIG. 6 the spring of FIG. 3 is shown modified by a button like protrusion 55.

In FIGS. 7a and 7b there is shown a hanger member 46 secured by screw 47 to wall 80. Member 36 is hooked over hanger 46. Member 46 may be a stamped metal piece or a molded plastic member. The latter in transparent form is preferred.

Another embodiment is shown in FIGS. 8a and 8b wherein an inwardly tapered ring 36' is secured to the back of the frame. The hanger 46' attached to the wall W is a conically shaped member.

As the tapered portion hanger 36' slides down over member 46 it will wedge against the wall W to prevent rotation. A compressible pad 50 of felt rubber etc. having a frictional engaging surface may be attached to the surface of members 36, 36'.

The use of the tapered connection between members 36 and 46 permits a wedging fit between the turned down edges of member 18 or member 36 and the wall. In this connection the use of the felt pad 50 provides a very effective temporary locking means.

It is to be noted that the front and rear members having a picture therebetween will protect if from external influences eg. hand prints, dust, etc., which may deface it or cause colors to fade.

Hereinbefore has been disclosed the best embodiment of the invention presently contemplated and it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A picture frame or the like adapted to be hung either horizontally or vertically comprising in combination a substantially flat, transparent and rigid front member having a pair of oppositely disposed mutually parallel edges, a back member including a substantially flat portion having a front surface positioned in closely spaced parallelism with a surface of said front member thereby to hold a displayed object between said surfaces and having a pair of opposite disposed parallel edges provided with integrally formed inturned terminal flanges adapted to cooperate in slideable engagement with a pair of front member edges, said back member further including a centrally located circular ring shaped hanging means having an inwardly projecting flange, said hanging means being affixed to a rear surface of said back member and spring means fixed to said rear surface and extending through an opening provided in said back member to exert holding pressure on said displayed object and said front member surface, and a circular shaped retaining means having an outwardly directed flange for matingly cooperating with said inwardly projecting flange of said hanging support means to permit relative rotation between said hanging means and said retaining means and an aperture in said retaining means adapted to receive a means for affixing said retaining means to a vertical surface.

2. A picture frame according to claim 1 wherein said back members further includes a pair of integrally formed ribs oppositely disposed on the remaining parallel edges.

3. A picture frame according to claim 1 including a pad member covering the said terminal flange adapted to engage the vertical surface when said picture frame is affixed to said hanging means.

4. A picture frame according to claim 1 wherein said circular shaped hanging means includes a toroidalshaped portion provided with an annular inwardly extending flange adapted to cooperate with said outwardly extending flange of said retaining means.

5. A picture frame according to claim 1 wherein said front member, rear member, hanging means and retaining means are fabricated from synthetic resin.

6. A picture frame according to claim 1 wherein said spring means is a leaf spring and includes a protruding portion proximate the protruding portion extending through said back member opening.

7. A picture frame according to claim 1 wherein said front member has two pairs of oppositely disposed mutually parallel edges, each of said pairs extending in a direction opposite the other.

8. A picture frame according to claim 1 wherein said flanges of said retaining means and said hanging means have mating tapered portions.

9. A picture frame according to claim 1 wherein said hanger means are transparent.

10. A picture frame according to claim 1 wherein said hanger means is conically shaped. 

1. A picture frame or the like adapted to be hung either horizontally or vertically comprising in combination a substantially flat, transparent and rigid front member having a pair of oppositely disposed mutually parallel edges, a back member including a substantially flat portion having a front surface positioned in closely spaced parallelism with a surface of said front member thereby to hold a displayed object between said surfaces and having a pair of opposite disposed parallel edges provided with integrally formed inturned terminal flanges adapted to cooperate in slideable engagement with a pair of front member edges, said back member further including a centrally located circular ring shaped hanging means having an inwardly projecting flange, said hanging means being affixed to a rear surface of said back member and spring means fixed to said rear surface and extending through an opening provided in said back member to exert holding pressure on said displayed object and said front member surface, and a circular shaped retaining means having an outwardly directed flange for matingly cooperating with said inwardly projecting flange of said hanging support means to permit relative rotation between said hanging means and said retaining means and an aperture in said retaining means adapted to receive a means for affixing said retaining means to a vertical surface.
 2. A picture frame according to claim 1 wherein said back members further includes a pair of integrally formed ribs oppositely disposed on the remaining parallel edges.
 3. A picture frame according to claim 1 including a pad member covering the said terminal flange adapted to engage the vertical surface when said picture frame is affixed to said hanging means.
 4. A picture frame according to claim 1 wherein said circular shaped hanging means includes a toroidal-shaped portion provided with an annular inwardly extending flange adapted to cooperate with said outwardly extending flange of said retaining means.
 5. A picture frame according to claim 1 wherein said front member, rear member, hanging means and retaining means are fabricated from synthetic resin.
 6. A picture frame according to claim 1 wherein said spring means is a leaf spring and includes a protruding portion proximate the protruding portion extending through said back member opening.
 7. A picture frame according to claim 1 wherein said front member has two pairs of oppositely disposed mutually parallel edges, each of said pairs extending in a direction opposite the other.
 8. A picture frame according to claim 1 wherein said flanges of said retaining means and said hanging means have mating tapered portions.
 9. A picture frame according to claim 1 wherein said hanger means are transparent.
 10. A picture frame according to claim 1 wherein said hanger means is conically shaped. 